Sisters In The Struggle: Why Are Black Feminists Ignored?

The Occidental media have provided a platform for white heterosexual feminists such as Geraldine Ferraro and Gloria Steinem to pollute the media with their racist and misandrist views about Barack Obama. The quandary is black feminists views are being ignored by the mainstream and the black media. The truth is the media networks don’t want the public to know the views of black feminists. The Occident ignores black feminism as being “invisible” this is their method of “marginalizing” and “silencing” the views of black women.

Essence Magazine is the only mainstream black publication that has provided a social and political context into the views of black feminism during this presidential campaign. The only black feminist that has been granted press is Alice Walker. Once again black feminism is treated as an afterthought as though mainstream white feminism is the “only” feminism and that’s false. The black media should be providing black feminists with a platform especially right now. I think it is crucial that black feminist perspectives be given center stage.

The vast majority of the newsrooms in the Occident are still controlled by the mythical norm. Since race is a social construction the mythical norm has forced Barack Obama into a corner and demonized him for being a black man. The racist and misandrist anti black male articles flooding the media are not by “chance”. The articles are carefully planned in editorial meetings by racist editors, managing editors, editor in chiefs and reporters.

I am surprised that Alice Walker did not criticize her “friend” Gloria Steinem for her disgusting racist and sexist attitudes. Steinem’s January 2008 NY Times opinion piece was abhorrent. Walker did say that there is a racial divide in feminism though. bell hooks has been very vocal in her work about Gloria Steinem and I applaud bell hooks for speaking the truth. Steinem focuses on gender and acts as though race and class is not an issue.

However, I wonder why are established black feminist scholars such as bell hooks, Barbara Smith, Patricia Hill Collins and Dionne Brand are ignored? I think black feminism can provide some insight for the masses as to why some black women are supporting Obama over Hillary Clinton and it isn’t just about race. One of the tactics mainstream white heterosexual feminism attempts to play is to force black women to choose between their race and gender.

The mainstream has only focused on Hillary Clinton’s “gender” as a potential disadvantage yet the Occident doesn’t want black feminist thoughts or views to be explored. The reason is black feminism is the key that would smash the “hype” surrounding Hillary Clinton. Hillary Clinton is no feminist heroine she is a privileged white heterosexual woman that gained political power through the mythical norm, the marriage market, and white skin privilege.

After all, one of the prevailing myths is that the white heterosexual feminist movement speaks for all feminists and that’s a lie. In fact, one the biggest problems in feminism is the fact the mainstream white heterosexual feminists attempt to displace black feminists and feminists of colour. My sister told me Hillary Clinton is “not her sister”. I think a real opportunity is being lost when black feminism isn’t given center stage.

It is a powerful yet racist example of white heterosexual female skin privilege when white mainstream feminists refuse to acknowledge their social advantage. Another issue is the Occident ignores the fact Hillary Clinton has social, economic, and political advantages due to whiteness. The western media are so focused on Obama’s blackness yet chooses to ignore Clinton’s white skin privilege this is absolutely deleterious and perfidious.